Computer Troubles

My computer updated last night and ALL my bookmarks have disappeared.  I googled fixes and NOTHING helps.  Also, I can't add a bookmark so something is up.  Guess I need to chat with the Apple ladies.  I bet that's hours worth of time.

Not a fun thing first thing, although probably (hopefully) not a big deal in the end.

My phone also updated and this turned on Amber alerts -- all wee hours of the morning.  I finally put on glasses and turned off the setting.  Rains it pours technology annoyances.

I had a great time with my aunt yesterday.  Chatted, ate, shopped.  I bought a holiday candle and it smells so good.  It's was worth the price tag for a candle that actually scents a room.  

Grand-dogs are back home and it's just me and my 2 pups.  Cleaning crew this morning -- they switched to Wednesdays.  I still have the early slot which is good and bad.  Start time is consistent and it's over by lunchtime, but that means a rushed morning and rushed mornings bug me -- especially when the rest of the day is nothing.

I don't have anything planned for today, but I need to get something done because my to-do list for the week is actually long.  It'll help if take some pressure off the list with a few prickly things.

That's all from here.  Fingers crossed on my computer woes.  Have a good day.  Later gators.

Pick Up Day

My eldest and DIL get home today so I'll be back to 2 dogs by dinnertime.  Hubby left super early for a trip to Western Canada (eek) so it's just me managing the gang.  This visit has run smoothly though -- no complaints.

Sleeping update.  I'm sleeping SO MUCH better (despite my neck and my monthly and 4 dogs in the bed).  I started taking Ashwagandha which is promoted for stress relief, better sleep, less fogginess, better libido -- basically lot of menopause symptom relief.  This one might be working.  I'll take it for a month (to see the full hormone swing) and then stop to see if sleep issues return.  Experimenting.  Once again, it seems safe to take it with enough studies to confirm its safety.

I'm waking up a lot still, but I'm able to fall back to sleep.  And I've been having very pleasant dreams -- some are Those Kind, but most are just happy dreams.  When I take anything else for sleep, I have vivid bad dreams.

Slowly but surly.  The most important thing is my diet and that's STILL off.  Getting better though.  Dang snacking at night.  I made a problem solving list to see what's up.  Lots of crappy thoughts AND nothing pre-planned for dinner.  The rest of this week I've made a list of what I'm eating for dinner.  This takes out the last minute decisions which have sucked lately -- random things from the refrigerator and pantry.  Not plant focused.  Not nutritionally beneficial.  Last night -- fresh pickles with parm cheese chunks.  Odd combination, but surprisingly good.  I'm not so much over-eating as I'm eating crap.

Lunch with my foster friend yesterday.  I like her, but we need to stop all the foster dog talk (and complaining).  I tried a few times to steer off that conversation, but it keeps coming back around.  We sit for a couple of hours and that's a lot of foster talk.  

Groundhog lunch with my aunt today.  Same time.  Same place.  Good news is it's always a great conversation.

Yesterday I walked the antique market and found a few things.  My newest obsession is using small pitchers for flowers and greens or herbs.  I love using older ones and it's fun to have different styles, shapes, sizes.  I also found a vintage nesting Santa with 3 little ornaments inside -- I'll use it for my little tree in Asheville.  I love the older Santa pitcher too.  Reusing and repurposing feels good.  Funny how some "vintage" is from the 1990s -- I guess I like "antique" more since I was a functioning adult in the 90s lol.

Have a great Tuesday.  Later gators.

Sunday Updates

The dinner was good.  Cooked as expected and the meatballs were super tender -- I had some doubts.  I'll make it again.  Next time I'd brown the cheese a little more (I stopped because the bread was getting burnt.  Maybe a bit more cheese to cover and I'd add a splash of acid at the end.  It could use something to break up the richness.   Easy to make, but lots of steps and expensive ingredients.  This would be nice for entertaining -- you could prepare everything and save the bread cheese part for before serving.  I'd serve with a green salad (high acid dressing) and more bread.

Next up on our Sunday was finding a stand alone freezer.  We need freezer space in Asheville.  It's a small freezer AND the ice maker is permanently broken so a bag of ice takes up a ton of room.  We have electrical limitations in the house, but we think the carriage house can take the electrical pull.  Best Buy had what we're looking for -- 14 cubic feet, converts either refrigerator or freezer, good reviews.  It gets delivered here next week and we'll take it to Asheville in time for Christmas entertaining.

I also wore a new outfit from Stitch Fix.  I haven't had a "fix" in years, but I decided to give it another go.  They now let you preview the order and nix things -- like poker ... throw these cards back and try again.  I still didn't like 2 of the things -- heavy sweater and a business-like blazer.  I kept jeans and 2 blouses.  Here are the jeans and one top.  BTW, I okayed the sweater (it didn't look nice on me though) and asked them to add a blazer and jeans.  

Stitch fix lets you order directly too, but only things they pick for you -- you can't search all things.  My box wasn't super pricey, but the pick items are $$$.  These jeans in the box were $50 and the other jeans they're showing me are $150-250 -- so I think they still want you to order a box.

I decided to try it again because the things I get from Stitch Fix always gets compliments and I rarely do with my other clothes.  I cleaned out my closet and a lot of cheaper things I've bought went to donation, but the Stitch Fix stuff is going strong.  I need some colder weather clothes to fit my "new" look.  I updated my profile and they did a decent job.  Of course, returns couldn't be easier and that's HUGE for me -- I hate returns.

Today is lunch with my foster friend who ditched on Friday.  Funny thing is I'm going to the same restaurant tomorrow with my aunt too.  Oh well.  It's easy and good outdoor seating.  Weather is warm again for a couple of days so outside will feel good.

After lunch, I'm going to take a walk through the antique market.  I haven't been since the pandemic.  I'm looking for some holiday things for Asheville and a few picture frames.  Tomorrow my aunt and I will walk the boutique stores in town.  

That's all from here.  Another week begins -- let's have a good one.  Later gators.

P.S.  My neck is finally improving.  I can tolerate it without Advil now -- man that was a long go just from a little bit of planting.

Happy Anniversary

29 years.

This picture is our wedding and our eldest's wedding.  Not too bad for almost 30 years later.  We're holding on so far (!!)  The friend we saw in NY last month made my wedding dress -- I still love it.

I'm making a Half Baked Harvest recipe today for our anniversary dinner.  Baked French Onion Meatballs. Stay tuned.  Onions, mushrooms, chicken meatballs ... topped with toasted baguette slices with gruyere cheese.  Otherwise, nothing on the celebration front.  I have no interest in going out to dinner this year and we're dog sitting and it's football Sunday and I have my monthly (not in the mood for a hike or such).  Hopefully, a big celebration next year though.

Yesterday's salad was a winner.  Man, I enjoy a loaded salad.

Grand-girls looking girly in the pink office.  

Extra hour of sleep was nice too.  I'm ready for some more light in the morning.  I don't mind dark evenings -- nice and cozy this time of year.

Hope you got to enjoy the extra hour too.  Have a great day.  Later gators.

The Weekend

I'm changing up lunch today -- Cobb Salad.  I know it's fall, but I was in the mood for a salad with lots of fixings.  Had some chicken already made so a quick prep of eggs, cheese and bacon and I'm set for today.  Sadly, the avocados were too green.  Still, it should be good.  Kids brought over leftover potato soup so we can heat that up too.

Turns out they are back on Tuesday, not Wednesday.  That's better :)

First night with the dogs was okay.  June likes to sleep on my feet and that's the one spot that I don't like.  I move her, she moves back.  It's a losing battle for one of us hah!

Nothing else on the calendar today.  

I'm having trouble working the way through my morning routine.  I get it done, but it's blah and doesn't feel great.  I know this is hormones combined with neck pain (biking HURTS), but man oh man I could use a win that feels good.  My monthly came overnight so maybe some relief in the next couple of days.

I feel rushed to get to feeling better so I enjoy the fun stuff on the calendar starting next week.  

Speaking of fun stuff, we're having Christmas in Asheville this year.  This should be a nice change up.  I'll need to plan the meals ahead and switch things up.  I'm looking forward to it being a bit different.  I also need to up the decorating game a little bit -- stockings and such.  Nothing major, but it needs a little more than the tree.

I need to get moving now.  Youngest just texted he's coming early AND bringing a U-Haul truck to get the bed and chairs.  I thought he was just checking them out first.  Best get at it. 

Let's have a great day -- later gators.

4 to 2

Grand-dogs are coming today and we're outnumbered 2-1.  I love having them, but 5 nights, 6 days is LONG.  Everyone gets edgy after about 3 nights and the bed is very crowded.  Hope the kids have a fun trip though.

Talked to my youngest and we're doing a birthday celebration next weekend.  Since hubby is traveling during the week, I won't be able to go to Asheville.  Guess it's going to be 5 weeks before my next visit unless I can muster something in-between.  Birthday celebration will be fun -- sushi and banana pudding.  I can count on him for very specific requests ;)

My foster friend canceled on lunch today ... or should I say, when I texted to set details, she let me know she has a meet and greet for foster dog from another rescue.  No problem at all, but maybe letting me know when you scheduled it would've been nice.  THREE "social" plans this week and all were ghosted or canceled.  Interesting.  Sometimes I think I'm dramatic about how frequently it happens and sometimes I know I'm not.  This particular friend hasn't done this before, so I know it's just an oversight, but given the Asheville issues, it hit a bit harder.  We rescheduled for Monday.  I'm not "angry" but the lack of courtesy from 3 different people this week gets old.

Nothing much on the calendar for today.  After morning stuff, I'm grocery shopping.  Trying a new recipe this weekend for our anniversary -- stay tuned.  Also, our youngest is coming over to check out a mattress we don't need anymore and is staying for lunch.  I'm probably doing sammies and such ... chips, fruit, dessert.

Happy Friday.  Hope this is a start to a fun weekend.  Later gators.

A Smorgasbord of Updates

Easiest to make a list :)

(1)  Hung my grandmother's corner shelf in the secondary bedroom in Asheville.  She had it for years, gave it to my mother (I remember it all my childhood homes) and she gifted it to me.  We don't have many corners big enough to hang it though.  I wish I could have put it downstairs, but this was the best spot.  Looks sparse from the picture, but the room has a lot of character that doesn't photograph well (like the plaster walls).

End table is switched currently so the Christmas tree had a higher table.

I'll probably change up the decor, but this is what I had on hand.

(2)  Christmas shopping has begun.  This is a journal that you write a sentence or two for the day and then the same for each day five years in total.  How interesting to see what you're thinking on a specific day each year.  I think the trick is to not read the previous year before you write the new one.  This takes consistency to work, but not much effort -- got one for me and my bestie.  I'll start January 1.  Since so much goal setting is "where will you be in FIVE YEARS,"  this idea seemed to capture it.  Hopefully, it's interesting and not dumb LOL.  

(3)  Duke got up early yesterday and wanted breakfast before Monti.  I gave them a scoop of food I use as on their frozen lick pads to use it up.  He picked out the veggies.  How do they do it?  Just like his dad. 

(4)  Monti had a raging ear infection.  Poor boy.  Ear infections start off slowly and then grow out-of-control.  He's all fixed up.  Ear cleaned out, medication installed and back to himself almost instantly.

(5)  I have my seasonal flu shot today.  I decided to spread things out.  Got the COVID booster, now seasonal flu and next month I'll start the shingles series.

(6)  I started reading One of Us is Lying (Karen McManus).  I've had it forever and have no memory of how I got the recommendation.  It's book 1 of 2.  I thinks it's YA.  

(7)  I need to start the Jen Hatmaker book selection too.  The Best of Me (David Sedaris).  I don't know a thing about this guy so I haven't been drawn to start it.  It's a compilation of essays about people and experiences in his life.  Stay tuned.

(8)  I'm not feeling better, but for the sake of mice wheel of complaining, I'll leave it at that.  Maybe someday (or year hah).

(9)  I've been thinking about taking a solo trip to Asheville next weekend, but that's up-in-the-air now.  My youngest has a birthday on the 13th and if he's in town to celebrate, I'll nix the trip.  There's also the issue with BEING SCARED (thanks, books) and it doesn't sound appealing in this moment -- i.e. there's nothing I'm jonesing to do solo in Asheville.  We'll see.  A quick couple nights might be nice though.  Maybe I'll let the weather be the deciding factor.  (I thought about inviting someone local to join me, but that feels like work, not fun.)

(10)  Speaking of fun and work ... November has a decent amount of FUN mixed with enough downtime (I think).  Fingers crossed I start feeling better.  I need to focus on keeping that balance too -- easy to overbook the holidays.

(11)  Fall garden is a BUST.  I needed to start the seeds earlier and put the pots in heavier fall sun.  It's a great place in the summer, but there's no enough growing light in the fall.  I tried.  I learned.  See you in the spring, for another installment of my itty bitty garden (and hopefully beautiful tulips!!).

Let's have a good day, pretty please with sugar on the top.  Oh, this reminds me (sugar) that the candy bar is called $100,000 bar -- not 1,000 or 10,000.  Made me laugh that I had the name wrong.  Stay well.  Later gators.

P.S.  I think I'm the only one in ATL that doesn't care the Braves won.  Schools and businesses closing to celebrate tomorrow.  It's lost on me and especially lost on me during a pandemic.